I was surprised by how much Club Med Punta Cana had going on! I traveled to the Dominican Republic for one week of experiencing Club Med for the first time. I am do-er when I travel, and at the resort, it feels like there are endless activities! I tried to do as much as I could–waking up for sunset yoga, perfecting my mini-golf game, learning archery for the first time and even taking a sailing lesson! The days felt so long because I was able to do so much, all on the Club Med “campus” as the G.O.s called it. Here’s my Hotel Snob rundown

Rooms
I stayed at their new “resort within a resort,” the Zen Oasis.The oversized lagoon pool was the centerpiece of this semi-private space, with in-water loungers, a hot tub could fit a party of 50, and the Hibiscus Bar which offered refreshments & tropical drinkst throughout the day. And you won’t hear any kids splashing around at this pool! The Zen Oasis is exclusive to adults so we could really relax and enjoy the Caribbean sunshine.
The rooms were sleek and minimalist, with amazing showers and very comfy beads. They each had their own outdoor space with day beds and if you had an upper room, you had lovely pool views.

Dining
There were several dining areas and options for each meal. I think my favorite was lunch out at Indigo Restaurant and Lounge. This open air space is located quite literally on the ocean, with waves splashing as you dine on the made to order menu.

The buffet dinner was very impressive at Samana Restaurant. They had a variety of ethnic cuisines, with chefs individually preparing plates at each station. The homemade ice cream definitely won me over.

Service

“Gentil Organisateurs,” or GOs, are a Club Med signature. The GOs are basically the staff but they treat their jobs as more like friends of the guests. They lead activities, provide any help that you need and of course are cheery and friendly. I got to know Christelle, an experience GO at Tiara, the 5 Trident Luxury space at the resort (read: oceanview villas with a private bar and pool) and she was a wonderful host.

Activities
I loved all the activities, as I mentioned, and the options were for all types of travelers. Need an intense cardio class to work off those margaritas? They have it. Want to learn out to kitesurf? No problem. In need of a massage in a beach cabana? Of course. There’s really just about every activity you could want on a beach vacation. However, I was truly surprised, challenged and impressed by their CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil program. Ever wanted to learn how to do aerial silks, swing from trapeze or spin in a giant bungee? You can! Watch to see this incredible program:

Overall, I didn’t know if I’d like an all-inclusive resort that has a very heavy family focus. Well, I found that is not all that Club Med Punta Cana is! I was able to find experiences that fit my preferences–being active, healthy eating, beautiful landscape, new activities and luxurious rooms. Next time, I want to bring a group of friends to take advantage of this one-of-a-kind resort experience!

I am very excited to announce that a video from our Live Like a Local: Peru series won a Trippy Award from Tripfilms. Food of Peru won top honors in the Best Bites: Top Food Video for 2015. Tripfilms is the largest travel video website and I’ve had the privilege of contributing to Tripfilms for the past 8 years.

I can understand why all those tasty, exotic Peruvian staple foods and signature dishes made the audience salivate enough to bring home the top prize. From a ceviche cooking class to tasting local fruits at the market, to dining 6000 feet up at Machu Picchu, Peru deserves all its credit as a world-class culinary destination.

If you haven’t seen it already, check out the award-winning Best Food of Peru below.

Special thanks to sponsors Visit Peru, Travcoa Travel and USTOA for supporting the Live Like a Local: Peru campaign. And thanks to all the Tripfilms audience that voted for us!

https://www.kelleyferro.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Peru-Food-Market-e1489008753864.jpg290475Kelleyhttps://www.kelleyferro.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/KF-LOGO-White-Transparent-01-1030x796.pngKelley2015-08-06 00:04:282017-03-08 21:35:37We won a Trippy for Best Food Video of 2015!

Find your magic in Morocco! Expedia believes that travel can transform people in unexpected ways. So we teamed up with the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) and travel blogger Kelley Ferro to find her magic in one of the most movie-like destinations in the world, Morocco.

Fodor’s Top Things to Do this Summer in New York City
Travel Expert Kelley Ferro highlights the best things to see and do in New York City during the summer. From MoMa to Central Park, the Highline to the Standard Biergarten, I have you covered. Viva la summer!

https://www.kelleyferro.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/vzsim_cnal8-yoann-boyer.jpg12001800Kelleyhttps://www.kelleyferro.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/KF-LOGO-White-Transparent-01-1030x796.pngKelley2015-07-01 00:41:472017-01-19 11:35:55Fodor's Guides: New York City in the Summer

Kelley is USA TODAY’s FOODIE Host. Join her as she eats her way around the Las Vegas!
Heard of this infamously GIANT buffet? Well Bacchanal Buffet at Caesar’s Palace is bigger and better than I could have imagined. I ate my way through as much as could–king crab legs? check. Filet Mignon? Check. Fresh sushi? Check. My only sadness was that I couldn’t properly indulge in the dessert station–next time those make your own crepes are MINE.

Get Lost in Saint Lucia with Kelley Ferro
Saint Lucia Overview
One of the most lush islands, Saint Lucia is as exciting as it is beautiful. With adventure, nightlife, romance, beaches, high end food & stunning hotels; this island will convince you that heaven can exist on Earth!

Live like a Local: Peru
USTOA’s Travel Together Series hosted by Kelley Ferro
Lima has the beach, the cliffs, the history, the energy and the passion. I loved our stay in the neighborhoods of Miraflores & Barranco. The city is definitely an exciting place and it’s only getting better and better.

Live like a Local: Peru
USTOA’s Travel Together Series hosted by Kelley Ferro
YUM! I loved the food of Peru. It was healthy, fresh, local and just delicious. In Lima we had the best local ceviche and even learned how to make it. In the Andes, we dined on local river fish and all sorts of locally grown vegetables. The fruits of the country are the true stars though–many come from the Amazon & the exotic tastes blew me away!